{"id":435586,"date":"2021-12-16T11:02:51","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T11:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/environmentaldefence.ca\/?p=32020"},"modified":"2021-12-16T11:02:51","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T11:02:51","slug":"environmental-groups-sound-alarm-over-implementation-of-pay-to-slay-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/12\/16\/environmental-groups-sound-alarm-over-implementation-of-pay-to-slay-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Groups Sound Alarm Over Implementation of Pay-to-Slay Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION, ONTARIO NATURE, WILDERNESS COMMITTEE<\/p>\n

Fund set up to allow\u00a0the destruction of species at risk habitats<\/em><\/p>\n

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation \u2013 On the heels of a blistering report by the Auditor General of Ontario<\/a>, laying out the abject failure of the Government of Ontario<\/a> to protect and recover the province\u2019s most endangered plants and animals, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has decided to forge ahead regardless with its Species at Risk Conservation Fund. Aptly dubbed by its many critics as \u201cPay-to-Slay,\u201d the fund will make it far easier for habitat destruction to occur<\/a> at the hands of industry and developers.<\/p>\n

The fund provides an appealing alternative for proponents of harmful activities. As summed up by MECP<\/a>, the fund allows them \u201cgreater flexibility\u201d and will \u201cshorten timelines, reduce burden and provide cost certainty for businesses.\u201d Rather than having to undertake on-the-ground actions to compensate for damage done, those businesses will be able to pay into the fund and then wash their hands of any further responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy making it quick and easy, the fund provides a perverse incentive for destruction,\u201d says Dr. Anne Bell of Ontario Nature. \u201cIt\u2019s blood money from those who want to rip up or pave over the forests, fields and wetlands where species at risk persist.\u201d<\/p>\n

So far, MECP has designated six conservation fund species \u2013 four birds, one turtle and a tree: barn swallow, bobolink, eastern meadowlark, eastern whip-poor-will, Blanding\u2019s turtle and butternut. All threatened or endangered, they and their habitats will be exposed to the destructive intentions of those willing to pay into the fund as of April 2022. For most of them, habitat loss is a key factor in their decline.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s another huge step backwards,\u201d says Rachel Plotkin of the David Suzuki Foundation. \u201cJust last month the Auditor General revealed that authorizations for harmful activities had increased by an astounding 6,262 percent since 2009. Once the fund is operational, those numbers will further skyrocket.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the species highlighted in the Auditor General\u2019s report was Blanding\u2019s turtle, a conservation fund species that has already been subject to more than 1,400 approvals for harmful activities. It has declined by more than 60 percent over the last three generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very concerned for Blanding\u2019s turtle \u2013 habitat loss is the biggest driver of their decline,\u201d says Katie Krelove of Wilderness Committee. \u201cThe fund simply clears the way for the bulldozers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once payments are made into the fund, there is no direct link between the harm inflicted (the degree or location of the negative impact) and the remedy to be provided through the fund. There is also a strong likelihood of significant delays between the harmful activities and conservation actions enabled through the fund.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis fund is first and foremost about streamlining approvals for destroying the habitat of our rarest and most vulnerable wildlife,\u201d says Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence. \u201cThe province is putting endangered species on the chopping block. It\u2019s clear that the dire warnings from the Auditor General have been ignored.”<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n

For more information, read our backgrounder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Media Inquiries:<\/p>\n

John Hassell, Director of Communications and Engagement | Ontario Nature johnh@ontarionature.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Rachel Plotkin, Ontario Science Projects Manager | David Suzuki Foundation rplotkin@davidsuzuki.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Allen Braude, Senior Communications Manager | Environmental Defence abraude@environmentaldefence.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

Katie Krelove, Ontario Campaigner | Wilderness Committee\u00a0 katie@wildernesscommittee.org<\/a><\/p>\n

About:<\/p>\n

Ontario Nature<\/a> is a charitable organization that has been working to protect Ontario\u2019s wild species and wild spaces through conservation, education and public engagement since 1931.<\/p>\n

The David Suzuki Foundation<\/a> is a national, non-profit organization that uses evidence-based research, education and policy analysis to conserve and protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada.<\/p>\n

Environmental Defence<\/a> is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.<\/p>\n

Wilderness Committee<\/a> is a national charity dedicated to preserving wilderness, protecting wildlife, defending parks, safeguarding public resources and fighting for a healthy climate.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The post Environmental Groups Sound Alarm Over Implementation of Pay-to-Slay Fund<\/a> appeared first on Environmental Defence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

This post was originally published on Environmental Defence<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE, DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION, ONTARIO NATURE, WILDERNESS COMMITTEE Fund set up to allow\u00a0the destruction of species at risk habitats Toronto | Traditional territories…Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

The post Environmental Groups Sound Alarm Over Implementation of Pay-to-Slay Fund<\/a> appeared first on Environmental Defence<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":717,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[529,24076],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435586"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/717"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=435586"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":435587,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/435586\/revisions\/435587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=435586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=435586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=435586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}